by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
This is one of the most fascinating things i have ever read. Rousseau entered an essay contest with this discourse and ratehr than answering the assigned question which he thought too simple, he wrote on the natural goodness of man. Contrary to a Hobbes or Machiavelli, Rousseau believes that man in his true state a nature (before concepts of justice and injustice had been conceived) was fundamentally good. This was based on his naivety, limited needs, lack of passions, and his innate ability to feel pity. as soon as man has the ability to reflect and use forthought and see beyond his immediate instant needs, then he sets off on his downward spiral of corruption, passion and eventually civilization. Rousseau also gives his account of how he believes man evoled from uncommunicating savage to the master and slave situation of the 18th century. The origin of language is something that it so hard to identify or even speculate and it was something i had not pondered before. how could language possibly arise? by pointing to individual objects and making sounds? would somethign as simple as "a tree" be identified with the same word for all trees or would each be given its own proper noun? how could adjectives and various other parts of speech possibly arise? even if one person miraculously decided to name things how could that concept possibly be passed on to others? its a totally baffling concept.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Western Civilization Vol C: Since 1789
by Jackson J. Spielvogel
This is a textbook, and is just full of information and trying to provide a summary would be pointless. Rather than attempt to do so, i wonder waht the single most important event or theme of the last 221 years is? obviously there are soooo many important ones, but do any stick out like a sore thumb? democracy? imperialism, industrial revolution, socialism or social reforms, WWI or WWII,computers, revolutions? maybe pick a top 3?
This is a textbook, and is just full of information and trying to provide a summary would be pointless. Rather than attempt to do so, i wonder waht the single most important event or theme of the last 221 years is? obviously there are soooo many important ones, but do any stick out like a sore thumb? democracy? imperialism, industrial revolution, socialism or social reforms, WWI or WWII,computers, revolutions? maybe pick a top 3?
Greece
by M. Rostovtzeff
this book is an account of Greek history, culture, philosophy, and politics from the time of the Minoans on Crete through the 1st century B.C. when the Latins or Romans became the dominant power in the Mediterannean. There is so much information in this book that i do not know where to go in starting a discussion.
In the Minoan civilization which surfaced on Crete around 3000 BC, it was a society based on egalitariansim. There is no evidence of slavery, women and men were granted similar if not equal political and property rights and ability to fight and participate in sports. There was no army, and the purpose of the navy was soley for trade (as Crete being an island had limited resources). Sanitation facilities were up to par with some in European palaces into the 1800's. There appears to be little differentiation in social class and the society was focussed on arts, rather than war. Since they had no military, the Minoans were easily conquered by the Achaeans and most of these egailarian and progressive aspects were suppressed. It is remarkable to think that a society such as this existed so long ago and has been unmatched for nearly 5000 years.
It is impossible to speculate how our world would have progressed if the values of the Minoans spread, rather than violent and military agendas of aristocrats throughout human history, but it is fun to attempt to do so. is it even possible to spread values to foreign cultures nonviolently? would christianity have been so successful if it had not been enforced by the Romans, or communism by the russian police, or Naziism by the SS? it seems we are a species that is dependent on violence, so i suppose it is more practical to be feared than loved.
this book is an account of Greek history, culture, philosophy, and politics from the time of the Minoans on Crete through the 1st century B.C. when the Latins or Romans became the dominant power in the Mediterannean. There is so much information in this book that i do not know where to go in starting a discussion.
In the Minoan civilization which surfaced on Crete around 3000 BC, it was a society based on egalitariansim. There is no evidence of slavery, women and men were granted similar if not equal political and property rights and ability to fight and participate in sports. There was no army, and the purpose of the navy was soley for trade (as Crete being an island had limited resources). Sanitation facilities were up to par with some in European palaces into the 1800's. There appears to be little differentiation in social class and the society was focussed on arts, rather than war. Since they had no military, the Minoans were easily conquered by the Achaeans and most of these egailarian and progressive aspects were suppressed. It is remarkable to think that a society such as this existed so long ago and has been unmatched for nearly 5000 years.
It is impossible to speculate how our world would have progressed if the values of the Minoans spread, rather than violent and military agendas of aristocrats throughout human history, but it is fun to attempt to do so. is it even possible to spread values to foreign cultures nonviolently? would christianity have been so successful if it had not been enforced by the Romans, or communism by the russian police, or Naziism by the SS? it seems we are a species that is dependent on violence, so i suppose it is more practical to be feared than loved.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Under a Cruel Star
written by Heda Kovaly, a Czech Jew living in Prague at the start of WWII. being in German territory as a Czech or a Jew was bad news bear, but being a combo was really bad news. Heda was taking to concentration camps and her entire family was murdered. while being transferred between camps she managed to escape and make it back to Prague. there she was met with rejection from all of her old friends who feared being caught harboring an enemy of the state. she ended up hiding out and after the war was over she got married and her husband got sucked unwillingly into the Soviet communist party as a high ranking official. as the wife of an elite she was treated poorly by locals and she was especially treated poorly after her husband was accused and convicted guilty of conspiracy. she dealt with rejection based on her race, and social status and was a victim of prejudice for a large portion of her life.
prejudices work their way into our daily lives in many ways whether we mean for them to or not. when prejudice really becomes a problem is when it is propogated by the media. This was a huge issue (and still is) in the palestinian crisis and in the "terrorism" in afghanistan. Muslim don't hate America's Freedom! granted they don't believe in all the liberal aspects of American life, but the claim that they attacked us because of our freedom is a myth created by the Bush Party and popularized by TIME magazine. People who do any kind of research on the topic will realize that America was not the innocent victim of terrorism but mindless boobtubers don't check the facts and buy into what they are fed. Its impossible not to be prejudice, just make sure to know why you stereotyping before you make decisions based on racial propoganda.
prejudices work their way into our daily lives in many ways whether we mean for them to or not. when prejudice really becomes a problem is when it is propogated by the media. This was a huge issue (and still is) in the palestinian crisis and in the "terrorism" in afghanistan. Muslim don't hate America's Freedom! granted they don't believe in all the liberal aspects of American life, but the claim that they attacked us because of our freedom is a myth created by the Bush Party and popularized by TIME magazine. People who do any kind of research on the topic will realize that America was not the innocent victim of terrorism but mindless boobtubers don't check the facts and buy into what they are fed. Its impossible not to be prejudice, just make sure to know why you stereotyping before you make decisions based on racial propoganda.
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